Show case or rack



(No Model.)

B. F. SPENCER.

. SHOW CASE 0R RACK. v No. 506,744. Patented 001;. 1'7, 1893,

W E i "In 0 Z HHIIIIIIIMHIHE a D 0 I n I I F i F i M) woe/whoa UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

EDI/VIN F. SPENCER, OF HASTINGS, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOW CASE OR RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 506,744, dated October 17, 1893.

Application filed March 3, 1892. Renewed February 10, 1893. Serial No. 461,827. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN F. SPENCER, of Hastings,in the county of Cambria and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Show Cases or Racks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement upon the show case or rack described and claimed in my application filed February 20, 1892, bearing Serial No. 422,315. In said application I have described and shown a rectangular shaped case or rack having top, bottom and two sides a glass frontsecured therein; aseries of shelves having the edge which comes next to the glass front beveled so as to form substantiall y a V-shaped space for the reception of letters, cards, photographs or anything else desired to be exhibited, and a wire or cord extending crosswise of the case or rack parallel with the shelves.

This invention is designed with special reference to the needs of post offices, particularly in cities Where foreigners are to be found in numbers. Numerous letters addressed by foreigners and to persons having unfamiliar names never reach their destination, or are called for time and again by the owner, but being unfamiliar with the name or names of such persons and often unable to decipher the Writing on the envelope or card much annoyance and unpleasantness has been caused thereby to the postmasters and their clerks. In order to prevent the repeated occurrence of such annoyance and unpleasantness I have devised a rack or case which is to be set up in a conspicuous place in the post office, and understood to contain all letters, about which there is any doubt, addressed in foreign handwriting, or addressed to unfamiliar names or in writing not easily deciphered. The case or rack is also admirably adapted for displaying other articles of merchandise and can be used in numerous ways for exhibiting any and all classesof merchandise.

The object of the present improvement is to overcome any liability of a card, letter or photograph accidentally slipping, or being pushed down between the glass front or other object forming the V-shaped slot into which the said articles are placed. To this end I secure to the beveled edge of the shelf apiece of thin material in such way that any space or opening in the V-shaped slot will be completely closed, thereby preventing any thin object placed therein from being accidentally pushed or slipping down between the shelf or other object in front of the shelf.

To enable those skilled in the art to understand and use my invention I will now proceed to describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of so much of a case or rack embodying myinvention as is necessary to a full and complete understanding of the same. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the same.- Fig. 3 is a view of a modification of a shelf, which will be here inafter more particularly described. Fig. 4 is a detail end view of shelf shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the accompanying drawings A represents the top; B the bottom or base; 0, C, the opposite sides of the rectangular frame or case. A front D, preferably of glass,'is secured in the said frame or case, but it will of course be understood that this is a nicety and note. necessity. A suitable number of shelves E are adjustably secured crosswise in the said frame or case. The front edge of the shelves are beveled at a.

To the edges of the shelves E, which are beveled, is secured a strip F of suitable ma terial of sufficient flexibility which when in position is bent upwardly so as to form a groove or V-shaped space 12 parallel with the shelf. It will thus be seen that if the material used for the strip is of sufficient strength, a card, letter or other thin object will be held firmly in place and the glass front can therefore in this instance be dispensed with. By thus securing the strip to the beveled edge of the shelves any opening or space between it and that portion of the object in front of the shelf (for instance the glass front), is completely closed and there is no danger of anything being pushed or falling down between them.

In order to hold the card, letter or other object placed in the V-shaped space I), in an upright position so that the address can be read or the card inspected, I run crosswise of the frame or case, arranged parallel with each shelf, a wire or cord 0 placed a suitable distance above the shelves so as to come against the card or letter being exhibited at about its center. It is thus held in upright position. A number of holes 0 to receive the ends of cords or Wires are formed upon the inside of the sides of the frame or case. The shelves are made adjustable by a series of blocks d situated upon the interior of the case or frame. In this way any sized exhibit can be accommodated.

In Fig. 3 the modification of the shelf shown is substantially of the same character as the one previously described-excepting that in the modification the object is to do away with the need of cords or wires being placed crosswise of the frame or case. In the modification the shelf is beveled at edownward from its top for one-half its thickness, while its edge for the other half of its thickness is cut downwardly atfslightly curving as shown in Fig. 3. In other Words the shelf is beveled on one of its edges so as to form alongitudinal shoulder g at its center parallel with the shelf.

Secured upon the edge of the shelf is a piece of thin material (preferably metal) bent to conform to the peculiar shape and configuration of the edge itself of the shelf. The shoulder 9 when a letter or card is placed in the case for exhibition will press against it and cause it to stand upright so that it can be easily inspected from the front of the case. The strip or metal in the modification also forms a longitudinal groove or space as in the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and performs the same function. In this way letters addressed to foreigners in unfamiliar names, or letters with poorly written addresses can be inspected and identified by the owner and time and annoyance saved both the owner 0 2. A show case or frame, provided with top,

sides and base, one or more shelves secured in said case or frame, having one of their longitudinal edges beveled as described, a strip of metal secured thereto and bent upwardly so as to form a longitudinal groove between said shelf and strip of metal, and cords or wires arranged as described, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

3. A show case or frame, provided with top, sides and base, one or more shelves secured in said case or frame, having one of theirlongitudinal edges beveled as described, a strip of metal secured thereto and bent upwardly so as to form a longitudinal groove between said shelf and strip of metal, and cords or wires arranged as described, a glass front secured in said frame or case, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. V

EDWIN F. SPENCER.

Witnesses:

FRED RADOLIFFE, E. K. HICKMAN. 

